Rangers are eyeing a summer move for Hearts and Scotland star John Souttar.
Ibrox director of football Mark Allen has identified the Tynecastle defender as a top signing target.
Souttar, who will be watched by the Light Blues at Hampden on Saturday, will look to help Hearts into the Scottish Cup final by trying to see off Inverness in their Scottish Cup semi-final.
Steven Gerrard is keen to strengthen his central defence for next season with Joe Worrall set to return to Nottingham Forest when his loan expires.
Souttar is now amongst Rangers’ top defensive targets as they look to give Connor Goldson and Nikola Katic added competition.
The 22-year-old signed a new deal earlier this season, until the summer of 2022 and it would take a seven-figure bid for the Jambos to consider selling to their Premiership rivals.
Hearts have played hard ball with Rangers in recent seasons with the likes of Jamie Walker and that is likely to be the case again.
Souttar was tipped for big things at Dundee United, alongside Ryan Gauld, but then his career at Tannadice stalled.
Craig Levein had been a guiding light in his early years at United and took him to Tynecastle in 2016, where his career has kicked on again.
Rangers are also closing in on a pre-contract move for Birmingham’s Greg Stewart.
